"The gentleman I'm touching right now," the hypnotist says as he places his hand on the shoulder of a chubby young man wearing a Springbok rugby shirt. "You are the minister of health, wellness and [pause for effect] hand-washing!" he booms from the stage. "During interval, hover around the bathroom doors and check that each and every person has washed their hands," he instructs. The owner of the voice is Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist performing at Montecasino in Johannesburg in March. "If you find any person who has not washed their hands, send them straight back in and do not let them out until they can prove? otherwise," he says as riotous laughter erupts from the audience. "When I snap my fingers, you are wide awake," he says to the man in the rugby shirt and the other people on stage with heads lolling on their shoulders, seemingly fast asleep. He snaps his fingers and they all immediately sit up – some with dazed and confused expressions on their faces. "Have a lovely interval everybody!" Andre waves as he walks off the stage. The word "hypnosis" conjures up images of people pretending to be washing machines, sprinklers, seagulls and any number of inanimate or bizarre things. One thinks of the master puppeteer on stage with the power to make one forget one's name or that the number four? exists. I must add, it is undeniably funny to see a fully grown and educated adult deal with this situation: "One, two, three [confused expression] … five." To satisfy my curiosity, I went to a private hypnotherapy session in Johannesburg. With eyes closed and hugging a large pillow, I spoke about my problems prompted by questions from a very pleasant hypnosis practitioner. While talking, I waited for the moment when everything would go dark and I would wake up suddenly to the sound of clicking fingers – minus an hour of my memory. That moment never came. I remember it simply as a very relaxed and introspective conversation – like a more tranquil version of a routine visit to a therapist, with the added scent of lemon-grass incense and the soft sound of wind instruments. In my search to find the answer to what ?hypnosis is, how it works and whether it's even real, I found the truth to be quite an anticlimax. It's a simple and straightforward phenomenon backed by logic – not the mystical and powerfully magical art I assumed it to be. How it works "Hypnosis is all about the direction of attention," explains Dr Richard Oxtoby, a psychologist and retired lecturer at the University of Cape Town's psychology department. Unlike most of his peers, Oxtoby devoted some of his time in academia to exploring hypnosis. He also uses hypnotherapy in his private practice. "Our normal waking state is one of constantly fluctuating attention – something may grab your interest and, for a time, you focus on it. But before too long you hear a sound and your attention shifts," he says. "Under hypnosis one's attention, instead of naturally wandering, is focused in a very narrow band."Hypnosis as a therepeutic tool Oxtoby uses the therapeutic benefits of hypnosis in a technique he terms the "rewriting of personal history". He says past traumas can have a particularly debilitating effect on a person's life. "People take away from traumas a belief about themselves, especially if they were very young. A belief that they're bad, that they brought this upon themselves in some way. And it's those attitudes of self-blame and lack of self-worth which can be very successfully altered under hypnosis," he says. Under hypnosis, Oxtoby takes his patients back to traumatic periods in their lives by using their imagination. "I get them to identify that feeling then to ask them to imagine they are now this little boy or little girl – and then imagine that their? adult self comes up to this child, sees them and comforts them." The trauma is relived and reimagined in the mind of the patient. Oxtoby says the adult self is able to explain to the traumatised child that "whatever they might've done and shouldn't have done – it was a totally inappropriate and cruel response on the part of whoever punished them in that way". Johannesburg-based hypnosis practitioner Yvonne Munshi? uses the same technique to help her clients: "I think what we all want more than anything else in the world – whether we're six months old or 70 years old – is to feel good about ourselves. Using hypnosis, we can change the feelings we have about ourselves. We can create new memories and feelings of kindness and understanding instead of only remembering punishment." Oxtoby says another important clinical benefit of hypnosis is stress reduction: "Most relaxation techniques [like yoga for example] have a hypnotic component to them. The benefits of relaxation and the release of stress can be enhanced by the appropriate use of hypnosis – it's a largely untapped resource." Oxtoby believes that "more people, especially in the health professions, could be inspired to explore this powerful technique". He says the principles of hypnosis can be used by any healthcare professional to relax patients, potentially making treatment easier and more pleasant for both patients and doctors.Changing notions of hypnosis Unknown to most, according to Oxtoby, hypnosis is a part of our everyday lives. "One can enter that hypnotic trance state just by being captivated by a beautiful sunset or a magnificent work of art." This is very different from conventional notions of hypnosis. "There are two very different approaches to hypnosis," explains Oxtoby. "The one is the traditional approach, a very authoritarian one, which one sees with stage hypnotists: ‘I'm going to put you in a trance and make you do whatever I want to make you do'." He says that was the understanding of hypnosis until the middle of the previous century, when American psychiatrist Milton Erickson developed a completely different approach – what he called "a permissive approach". "So instead of exploiting a power relation with the client, he would more or less seduce the client. More like: ‘If you would like to, you would probably find you're experiencing so and so,'" Oxtoby says. "I think professional people with very few exceptions use the permissive approach." Professor Mark Solms, head of the University of Cape Town's psychology department, agrees with Oxtoby about the misconceptions created by stage hypnotists. "Doubts about hypnosis and its scientific credibility arise mainly from wild claims made about its mechanism at the turn of the last century, and unprofessional and theatrical applications of the speciality," says Solms. Although hypnosis doesn't really feature in university curricula? in South Africa?, Solms says? it is a very real phenomenon. "Understanding the mechanisms of hypnosis reveals important facts about attention, self-awareness, volition and free will," he explains. "Furthermore, the brain images of people in hypnotic states demonstrate unequivocally that the brain is in an altered state under hypnosis." Stage hypnotist Andre Grove (Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist), says: "In my shows it's not hypnosis that plays the overwhelming role." He says that the far more specialised and demanding part of his shows is the performance side. "I can teach you how to do hypnosis in an hour, but you can't be taught how to be a performer," he says. "It took me a lifetime to become the overnight success I am now."Selection process But that doesn't explain how he makes people do such outlandish things on stage. "There's a selection process," explains Oxtoby. "Actually the secret of the hypnotist's power doesn't lie so much in what he does with the subjects who are up there on the stage, but more in how he selects from the whole group who are present." Andre's selection process began with calling anyone who wanted to volunteer on to the stage. I threw caution to the wind and volunteered myself. Among other things, he asked us in a low, steady voice to close our eyes, breathe deeply, relax and interlock our hands. "You will now try to pull your hands apart," he continues in a soft monotone, "and you will find you can't – they are stuck together." I tried to pull my hands apart. And I did. The less suggestible people, including myself, leave the stage as Andre skilfully selects volunteers. I walked back to my seat still asking what hypnosis was really about. During interval, I went to the toilet. As soon as I walked out, I remembered that the new "health minister" would be hanging around. The "minister" holds up his hands and, with a stern look on his face, says: "Stop. I'm inspecting hands. It's a new government regulation. What's this black stuff?" he raises his voice and looks accusingly at me. Unfortunately, I didn't thoroughly wash off all the ink residue left from my note-taking during the show. He points to the bathroom and shifts his posture to make sure I know I will not get past him without a fight. My face reddens as I turn around and walk straight back into the bathroom. I feel like a naughty child. After scrubbing for a good few minutes I cautiously walk out again. He grabs my hands and pulls them to his face again. Almost begrudgingly, he says: "OK, you can pass." Unclear law leaves practitioners inthe dark "Since 1997, every few months some panic surfaces in the hypnosis community regarding the law," says Leo Gopal, a research psychologist and founder of the South African Hypnosis Network – a nonprofit network for all hypnotists in the country. Gopal is referring to the Health Professions Act, which, in 1997, was amended to include "hypnosis and hypnotherapy" as actions to be solely performed by a licensed psychologist or mental health practitioner – making the practice illegal without this professional status. There are countless "hypnotherapists" practising in South Africa, and many schools that train them, but who are not trained and registered psychologists. The Act also made stage hypnotism an illegal practice, but was amended in 2007 to allow them to continue performing. "This amendment allowed us to breathe a sigh of relief," says Gopal, "It allowed some leeway in our profession." The act of hypnosis was no longer illegal for hypnosis practitioners but they were not allowed to describe themselves as hypnotherapists. "It's a grey area under much debate," says Gopal. Hypnosis practitioner Yvonne Munshi, says the wording of the Act is a problem of semantics. She is redesigning her website to replace the word "hypnotherapist" with "hypnosis practitioner". "But people don't know this. They look for hypnotherapists and not hypnotists. If people ask me if I'm a psychologist, of course I say no, but not being able to use the word therapist negatively impacts on my business. It's a catch-22 situation." Gertie Pretorius, vice-chairperson for the professional board of psychology of the Health Professions Council of South Africa, says the council is "concerned" about the number of unregistered and unqualified people practicing hypnotherapy. "There are huge risks involved because only a registered psychologist would be able to recognise the worrying signs [exhibited by a distressed patient in therapy]," she says. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Exploding 'supernova' captured in my fist "Very often people come in here and they think I'm going to whack them over the head with a rolling pin and they're going to walk out of here a nonsmoker and not remember anything that's happened," says hypnosis practitioner Yvonne Munshi as she prepares me for a hypnotherapy session at her Bryanston office. "Hypnosis is a state of altered awareness," she says. "It is not sleep, not unconsciousness. It is, in fact, a state of heightened awareness during which the logical mind is bypassed and dialogue is held with the subconscious mind." Munshi sits opposite me and places a large pillow on my lap. "Lean back and relax," she says. She stares at the forms she has filled in with my answers to some basic questions: "How old are you? What is your relationship with your family like? Any history of depression, drug or alcohol abuse, and phobias or general problems?" She looks up again and smiles reassuringly at me. "Let's put some music on." I concentrate to hear the almost inaudible sound of flutes over the rumble of Johannesburg traffic outside the window. "Since you are generally quite stressed and you put a lot of pressure on yourself, how about the first thing we do is give you a little tool so you can experience a bit of what a trance is like." I nod. "This is your stress ladder," she says while sketching a ladder on a piece of paper. "With deadlines and stress and constant demands on us, we tend to go up that ladder. To bring ourselves down we can use our imagination because it is an incredibly powerful tool." She asks me to imagine three images: a "happy heart", a "peaceful mind" and "playfulness of spirit". "For example, my peaceful mind image is of Knysna at midnight beside the lagoon," Munshi says in a hushed voice. "The moon is shining on the water – it's just beautiful." She gently directs my hands to lie flat on top of the pillow on my lap. Following her instructions, I take a deep breath, close my eyes and lay my head back on the couch. "There you go. Much better," she says soothingly. After I pick each image, she asks me to "sink into the feeling" – to think about it alone and to let it overwhelm me. "Take a deep breath and sink more into the feeling," she commands softly. "What symbol can you give these three images?" she asks. In the moment, all I can imagine is a supernova exploding in a sea of light. "Wonderful! Now make a fist with your right hand and hold on to that star. Imagine you can hold on to the feeling of that exploding star. "Every time you want to be in this place – how you are feeling now; happy, peaceful, playful, excited, free – all you need to do is take a deep breath and make a fist with your right hand because it is anchored here," she says, touching my clenched fist. She counts from five to one and asks me to open my eyes. I feel good, like a warm wave has washed over me. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Hypnosis can help in a range of treatments Dementia A 2008 study by the University of Liverpool showed that hypnosis can help patients suffering from dementia. Hypnosis was compared with a number of other treatments, including group therapy over a period of nine months. Patients receiving hypnosis treatment showed improvements in memory, concentration and socialisation, but the patients in group therapy showed little to no improvement. The author of the study, forensic psychiatrist Dr Simon Duff, said: "Participants who are aware of the onset of dementia may become depressed and anxious at their gradual loss of cognitive ability and so hypnosis can really help the mind concentrate on positive activity like socialisation." Breast Cancer Using hypnosis before breast cancer surgery can reduce post-operative pain, nausea and lower treatment costs, according to a study published in the Journal ?of the National Cancer Institute ?in 2007. Half of the sample of 200 women received a 15-minute session of hypnosis from a psychologist before surgery, and the other half spent the same time talking to the therapist. Patients in the hypnosis group required less anaesthetic and spent an average of 11 minutes less in theatre, resulting in cost savings of $773 a patient.Hot flushes – menopause Hot flushes caused by menopause were reduced by up to 80% by weekly sessions of hypnosis conducted by clinically trained therapists, according to a study undertaken last year by Baylor University's Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory. Over five weeks, 187 women participated in "hypnotic relaxation therapy" and, on average, flushes reduced in frequency as well as intensity. The authors of the study said this intervention may appeal to women because of the low cost compared with medication. Source: Professor Mark Solms, psychology department, University of Cape Town

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Researchers looked at deaths in men and women of all ages in Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool between 1980 and 2011. The results showed that women born in the 1970's should look at their drinking habits. The study compared trends in alcohol-related deaths of people born between 1910 and 1979. Overall, men were much more likely to die from alcohol-related disease than women and the age range most affected was people in their 40's and 50's. But while, for the majority of people, rates have levelled off or even dropped slightly, the same cannot be said for the youngest group of women, those born in the 1970's, where the death rates actually increased. The Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy have also noticed that women in their 30’s and 40’s make up the bulk of the clients coming to see them for problem behaviours with regards to alcohol. It would appear that women in this high risk group (in Surrey at least) are becoming aware of their behaviours around alcohol and are turning to our hypnotherapy for alcohol programme to change their behaviours around alcohol. Paul White, the behavioural change specialist at the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and former Chairman of the National Council for Hypnotherapy, said, “The problem is that alcohol is a readily available, legal substance for adults to use. Prolonged or excessive use can lead to dependency problems. Even use of alcohol in small amounts can impair the ability to work machinery or drive safely.” At the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy we use hypnotherapy to remove dependency to alcohol. Behavioural change is usually achieved relatively quickly and can normally lead to a permanent resolution. The outcome is not influenced by the length of time the behaviour has taken place in the past. We have successfully treated a wide range of problem behaviours over many years, ranging from cocaine to gambling. We would not usually class smoking or weight loss as an addiction/ problem behaviour.

STUDENTS at Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University are set to benefit from the use of modern hypnosis techniques to help reduce examination stress and improve their grades.• Visiting Professor Ursula James is introducing the use of clinical hypnosis at RGU• James recently accepted the position of Visiting Professor in Clinical Hypnosis at the university

The use of clinical hypnosis is being introduced at the university by new Visiting Professor Ursula James who is an internationally renowned expert in the field and the presenter of the Channel 5 show “Sex, Lies and Hypnosis.”Professor James recently accepted the position of Visiting Professor in Clinical Hypnosis at RGU, the first appointment of its kind in the UK.A university spokesman explained that Prof James, who is also a visiting teaching fellow at Oxford University Medical School, had been been approached by university authorities to take on her new role after delivering a workshop on self hypnosis for childbirth at the university’s Faculty of Health and Social Care in November last year.He said: “Staff at RGU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery will work with Professor James to develop new support strategies for students, including hypnotherapy, to alleviate the stress of exams and course work which will also be incorporated into the induction process.“Whilst at RGU, Professor James will continue her research into the effect of altered states on cognition and the bio-medical markers of stress.”

‘Exciting projects’Prof James said: “I am honoured to accept the position of Visiting Professor at Robert Gordon University and look forward to working with students and staff on a number of exciting projects designed to reduce stress, improve personal abilities and enhance skills.”She continued: “There is a fantastic ‘can-do’ attitude at RGU and as part of my appointment I aim to improve the professional standards in hypnosis and develop further research in this field. RGU is the perfect place to do this.”Experts at the university will also be working with Professor James to develop an MSc in Clinical Hypnosis which will include specific modules on smoking cessation, weight loss and child birth. The course, which will be developed over the next year, will be taught both full-time and part-time, utilising a blended learning approach.‘Great addition’Professor Ian Murray, RGU’s Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery, welcomed Professor James’ appointment which he described as a “great addition to the school’s depth of talent and expertise.”He said: “Clinical Hypnosis is an exciting area of medical practice and we are delighted Professor James has joined our team. We look forward to working with her to develop new courses for the university as well as innovative ways of alleviating stress and improving student performance.”Professor James currently heads a team which teaches clinical hypnosis at eleven medical schools in Britain, including Oxford and Cambridge. She also had her own TV series on Channel 5 called “Sex, Lies and Hypnosis” which used hypnotherapy for relationshipsShe is also the Patron of Anxiety UK and the National Centre for Domestic Violence and is actively engaged in research into the applications of altered states of awareness for enhancing performance and reducing anxiety.

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With so many movies perpetuating misconceptions about hypnosis, it is time to put the record straight. CLINICAL hypnosis is a state of relaxed inner concentration that can offer some very powerful benefits to health and well-being. Recently, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, made headlines when she visited a clinical hypnotherapist to help with her morning sickness, sending a strong message that clinical hypnotherapy is safe for mother and child. So, perhaps it is time to check out this form of healthcare, which is also available in Malaysia.What does a clinical hypnotherapist do? Scientific research shows that clinical hypnosis can help with a wide variety of conditions, from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dental phobia to pain management, and even recovery from surgery. A recent study from Harvard University, US, shows that self-hypnosis stimulates the relaxation response, and this can even switch off genetic markers that trigger harmful illnesses. Clinical hypnotherapy is safe and can help improve sleep, reduce chronic pain, alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, and even build up confidence and motivation. And far from being scary, clinical hypnosis is a state that most people enter naturally several times a day. In fact, if you have ever found your mind drifting away whilst you are driving, or experienced an enjoyable daydream, then you have experienced a natural form of hypnosis. This experience is called dissociation, and the human mind does it all the time! A clinical hypnotherapist can structure your natural experience into a powerful form of therapy that can help with medical conditions, psychological problems, and even help you prepare and recover from surgery. How does it work? A clinical hypnotherapy session goes on for about one to one-and-a-half hours. You start by talking about your problem; then the hypnotherapist invites you to close your eyes and allow your body and mind to relax. This is a powerful form of relaxation that also allows your mind to dissociate from troubled thoughts and focus on finding solutions. Learning is very quick when you use clinical hypnosis, and one of the advantages of clinical hypnosis is that it allows you to safely access your inner mind to release your true potential. Many people experience a sense of “floating down” into their inner selves. This is the beginning of a dissociative state. In this state, we are reconnected to the optimism and sense of wonder that we all experienced as children but often forget as we get older. The mind becomes more supple, and with the help of an experienced clinical hypnotherapist, we are able to identify problem mindsets, build motivation, revisit faulty thinking and create new solutions. Clinical hypnosis also provides an efficient method of “metabolising” unnecessary stress, and research also indicates that it could even strengthen immune system function. This means you almost always wake up with a sense of profound relaxation and wellness. Time passes very interestingly when you experience hypnosis. For some people, it can slow down and you see everything very clearly. For others, time can pass very quickly, almost in a dream-like state. But the most important thing to remember is that you remain in control throughout the whole experience. You could in fact get up at any time and walk out of the therapy. And this is when you realise that all the scary stories about hypnosis are just urban myths. Myriad benefits There has been increasing interest in clinical hypnosis over the last 20 years. In the UK, clinical hypnotherapy is a recommended treatment for IBS. And in the US, many studies show that patients benefit significantly during and after their operations if they were first prepared using clinical hypnosis. Closer to home, University Malaya and the London College of Clinical Hypnosis have just completed research on the role of hypnosis in pain management. One of the advantages of using clinical hypnosis is that the effects can be immediate. Of course, some things take time, but smoking cessation therapy can be carried out in one session, and many anxieties and phobias respond well after a few sessions. Anyone who can daydream can experience hypnosis. But it is important to remember that clinical hypnosis is not a panacea for all conditions and illnesses.

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According to Medi Placement, regular fulfilling sleep can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in the same way exercise, healthy diet and quitting smoking can. A study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that people who enjoy a relaxing night’s sleep can significantly reduce their chances of being affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD). If this is combined with a healthy lifestyle, result showed that people have a 57 per cent lower risk of CVD both fatal and non fatal and are 67 per cent less likely to die from the illness. Lead Researcher added: “If all participants adhered to all five healthy lifestyle factors, 57 per cent of fatal CVD could theoretically be prevented or postponed.” In response to the latest findings the National Council for Hypnotherapy has taken the decision to highlight the effectiveness of hypnotherapy to help those suffering with sleep disorders. The Council, which is made up of qualified and professional hypnotists, can teach clients techniques to help them relax and fall to sleep more easily. A representative from the organisation explained: “The findings are indicative of how important sleep is and the effect it can have on our health. Hypnotherapy can help someone who may be suffering from an inability to fall asleep or irregular sleep patterns, teaching them to relax and feel less stressed about going to sleep.” The National Council for Hypnotherapy continues to follow health related news and highlight the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. NCH represents over 1800 hypnotherapy professionals within the UK and is committed to ensuring the highest possible professional standards amongst our members. Those looking for help with smoking, weight, anxiety, panic attacks, habits and phobias may be helped by local NCH accredited therapists, look for the NCH seal of approval on their websites. As one of the largest registers of independent Hypnotherapists, the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) is actively involved with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and strives to develop standards for the benefit of the profession, now and into the future.

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Hypnosis appears to lessen the pain and emotional distress of people who are trapped or injured after accidents, Haguenau station manager David Ernenwein said.

"Look me straight in the eye. Your mind is emptying, your body is relaxing," says the fireman, using the calming words of hypnosis to help a trauma victim -- a technique being pioneered by fire crews in the eastern French region of Alsace.At the Haguenau fire station, 120 firemen have been trained in basic medical hypnosis which they can use to soothe someone trapped under rubble or in a car following an accident, or even a person suffering an asthma attack.The idea is that hypnotherapy can complement traditional first aid assistance."These are verbal, gesticular and respiratory techniques that aim to ease pain and anxiety, but that obviously don't replace traditional first aid," explains Cecile Colas-Nguyen, a nurse and member of the fire brigade, and a trainer in hypnosis.While firefighters arriving on the scene of an accident get to work tending to the injured or cutting a victim free, staff trained in hypnosis establish a more personal link with the person and divert his attention away from the trauma of the scene.Typically the firefighters speak in a calm and measured voice and are careful to avoid any negative words. Instead of focusing on the person's pain, the emphasis is on his wellbeing.RELATED: KATE MIDDLETON MULLS 'HYPNOBIRTH'"While my colleagues take care of your safety, your mind will take off to the ski slopes and your body is going to stay here," a young firemen at a training exercise tells a pretend victim who has confided a love of winter sports.Haguenau station manager David Ernenwein says he is "convinced" that the method is useful."We have all noticed that when we hold someone's hand, things go better, even if we did not label it as 'hypnosis.' The first thing that we can do to help people is to calm them down, and this technique has given us the tools to be able to do that, to help people suffer less," he says.For the moment this use of hypnosis is unique to Alsace but Yves Durrmann, the brigade's chief doctor, says he believes firemen all over France should use it.But first, the usefulness of the technique has to be proved.For at least the next six months, the Haguenau brigade are keeping a record of the heart rate, pain levels or emotions of victims they help. These results will be compared with stats of victims treated by firemen who have not used hypnosis with them.RELATED: PANIC AS STUDENTS GET STUCK IN HYPNOSIS"Our first evaluation seems to show benefits: in 100 percent of cases people said that they felt time was distorted, in other words that the time the firemen took to tend to them seemed shorter than it actually was," says Colas-Nguyen.Officials at the interior ministry are cautiously optimistic about the Alsace experiment."We have known for a while that hypnosis works, it is not a placebo," says Stephane Donnadieu, a medically trained fireman and advisor to France's rescue operations directorate."But you need properly trained people: That is the challenge, as crews only receive short training."It is not really pure hypnosis that is used, he says, but "more like certain hypnotic techniques". But "if that can bring greater calm, empathy and support that is already not bad," he says.The real test will be seeing if firefighters can successfully use their new skills in particularly noisy and traumatic circumstances, he adds.No problem, says Colas-Nguyen. "We can help victims to disconnect from what is happening around them. And even the beep beep of medical equipment can focus a person's attention so we can help transport them to another place," she says.

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According to Counsel and Heal in an article published on the 8th July 2013, new research has found that children as young as ten are aware of their weight. The study conducted by the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU) looked at 68,000 adolescents and teenagers between 10 and 15 years of age and asked them about eating habits, body image issues, weight and other appearance based topics. Results showed that on average 37 per cent of girls wanted to be slimmer, with girls aged 14 and 15 showing the highest figures at 63 per cent. Many respondents admitted to skipping breakfast with both boys and girls of all ages stating this, particularly peaking in the oldest age group.Laura Sharp, a nutritionist for the Children’s Food Trust said:“These are very worrying findings – all pupils, whatever their age, need to start the day with breakfast if they’re going to be able to focus in class. What’s particularly worrying is that girls and boys are skipping meals at a time when their bodies are changing fast and they’re particularly in need of good nourishment.”The news of unhealthy eating habits developing in children as young as ten is a cause for concern for the National Council for Hypnotherapy. The Council consists of professional and qualified hypnotists who regularly work with clients who are struggling with their eating habits. This can include both overeating and eating excessively unhealthy. Signs that such habits are developing in children is very worrying as a spokesperson from the Council explained:“Hypnotherapy can be used to realign the clients eating habits and attitudes towards food and is effective in strengthening willpower and determination to lose weight. It is also great for opening up the willingness to try new foods – something that could be hugely influential on a person’s life.”The National Council for Hypnotherapy continues to follow health related news and highlight the benefits of using hypnotherapy.NCH represents over 1800 hypnotherapy professionals within the UK and is committed to ensuring the highest possible professional standards amongst our members. Those looking for help with smoking, weight, anxiety, panic attacks, habits and phobias may be helped by local NCH accredited therapists, look for the NCH seal of approval on their websites. As one of the largest registers of independent Hypnotherapists, the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) is actively involved with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and strives to develop standards for the benefit of the profession, now and into the future.If you would like to find more about how Birmingham Hypnotherapy Clinic can help you for problems such as anxiety, confidence, low self esteem, hypnobirth, gastric band hypnosis, sports performance hypnosis, weight loss hypnosis, sexual problems contact Birmingham Hypnotherapy Clinic.

According to new research stated in an article published on BootsWebMD, a lack of sleep can increase the chance of gaining weight. The study took 225 healthy, non obese people ranging in age from 22 to 50 years old. Participants slept in a sleep laboratory for 12 to 18 days and were randomly selected to suffer restricted sleep or unrestricted sleep. Some had 4 hours sleep; others could sleep freely from 10 pm to 8am.Participants with restricted sleep ate more calories than those with unrestricted sleep. The extra calories, on average 550, were consumed between 10pm and 4 am, a time when the participants were kept awake. The overeating caused a weight gain of just over 2 pounds compared to just one tenth of a kilogram for those who had unrestricted sleep.The results show the profound affects lack of sleep can have on the body and the influence it has on our meal decisions. One way to help with sleeping issues as well as with controlling eating habits is to use hypnotherapy. The National Council for Hypnotherapy is an online directory of hypnotists based in the UK. The organisation links hypnotists with clients looking for hypnotherapy sessions in their local area. Responding to the new research a spokesperson said:“It is fascinating to see the effect that sleep can have on the body. Hypnotherapy can be used to treat a variety of problems including sleep disorders and weight problems, making it the perfect therapy to recommend in light of the study findings.”The National Council for Hypnotherapy continues to follow health news.

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According to The British Psychological Society in a document published on the 28th June 2013, a lack of sleep could be a significant contributor to excessive worrying. The study revealed that feeling tired and edgy can add to anticipatory anxiety, something that is experienced by those with anxiety disorders. Sleep deprivation is linked to the brain’s insular cortex which is associated with emotional processing and a lack of sleep can stimulate this area.The findings come as no surprise to the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) who often deals with anxious patients suffering with sleeping disorders. The NCH is made up of professional and qualified hypnotists throughout the United Kingdom who can help with a range of issues including sleep and anxiety disorders. Responding to the findings a spokesperson added:“Sleep deprivation as a result of a sleep disorder can be a hugely damaging ailment and should be addressed in the best possible way. Hypnotherapy can help find the root of the problem as well as help the client with relaxing and de-stressing techniques to help them slip off to sleep. It can work in an effective and simple way and is a great way of avoiding risky medication such as sleeping pills.”The National Council for Hypnotherapy continues to raise awareness of the benefits of hypnotherapy.NCH represents over 1800 hypnotherapy professionals within the UK and is committed to ensuring the highest possible professional standards amongst our members. Those looking for help with smoking, weight, anxiety, panic attacks, habits and phobias may be helped by local NCH accredited therapists, look for the NCH seal of approval on their websites. As one of the largest registers of independentHypnotherapists, the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) is actively involved with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and strives to develop standards for the benefit of the profession, now and into the future.

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MANY of us have something that brings us out in a cold sweat and makes our hair stand on end.Whether it's being trapped in a lift, flying or peering over the top of a skyscraper, phobias affect one in 10 of the population.And a fear of creepy crawlies is among the most common of phobias.Should you suffer from entomophobia (the fear of insects), there is every chance you haven't been tuning in to Sir David Attenborough's new show Micro Monsters 3D, in which the beloved naturalist uses the latest 3D technology to bring to life the extreme and unseen world of bugs.However, one of the show's producers, Sias Wilson, claims that there are ways to get around such phobias."Generally speaking, if a person does have a phobia, it's worth revisiting and having a look at insects for what they are. I think if you can see the beauty in them, and that's what we're trying to do with the series, then that can be very helpful."But while phobias might be one of the most common psychiatric disorders, they are also among the most curable.As well as various behaviour therapies, hypnotherapy is a popular way to desensitise sufferers.There are actually only two things we fear when we are born: loud noises and falling, our fight-or-flight instinct reacting to a perceived harmful attack.Other fears can be developed very early on, however."Our memory begins before we are even born and continues all the way through until the day we die," explains David Samson, a psychiatrist and hypnotherapist who specialises in the treatment of phobias. "All this data is recorded somewhere.Ten per cent of it gets stored in the conscious while the other 90 per cent is stored in the subconscious.For approximately the first six years of our life, virtually everything that you see, feel, hear or smell gets dumped into the subconscious.Once you get to six years of age, a different process happens and the conscious brain takes in all this data, but it then filters it into the conscious and subconscious.But it's the pre-six-year-old stuff that I deal with because it's when learned behaviour takes place."Samson argues that a one-year-old seeing a spider for the first time would have no natural instinct to be afraid of it and would most likely be inquisitive.Problems arise from the reaction to the one-year-old's fearlessness."A child moves their hand towards it, then a parent walks in and tells them in a louder-than-normal voice not to touch it, uses a faster-than-normal hand movement and perhaps even kills it."This is something extraordinary and suddenly the child has learned something. A folder is created in the subconscious called 'spider', and within that folder is something to be fearful of."This so-called folder will lie dormant until the subconscious - your protection mechanism - thinks you might be in danger."Let's say many years later the child is at a friend's house and out of the corner of their eye they see a spider," says Samson."Their conscious brain, the more intelligent bit, tries to rationalise it, but more pressure is placed on it by the subconscious, which is telling them to get the hell out of there. In a nutshell, this is how phobias develop."Wilson believes that a phobia of creepy crawlies also arises from the fact that we aren't that accustomed to such creatures."We don't see a lot of them wandering around. We rarely even see spiders in our day-to-day lives so we quickly become fearful of the unknown."Only about 10 per cent of bugs will eat or bite other bugs or small mammals, so it's actually a very small percentage of the millions which exist out there."Saying that, I think it's very difficult to say to someone with a phobia that they're wrong because it's a psychological, instinctive sort of conditioning. It's more deep-rooted than merely looking at the insect."Mary-Jane was terrified of spiders until she was treated by Samson using hypnotherapy. He described her as "a really bad case.She couldn't even look at images. She had adapted her life with a huge amount of avoidance.""If I saw a picture of one or one appeared on television I would scream, my heart would race and I'd shut my eyes," she recalls."I was terrified of them. Once I got home and there was a tiny spider near my keyhole. I couldn't use my keys and had to call a friend to come and let me in."A couple of years ago the Tate gallery had a giant Louise Bourgeois spider installation and it appeared on posters on the Underground to advertise it."It was just art but I couldn't even look at it and I ended up actually contacting Transport for London about it. Of course, that seems ridiculous now."Mary-Jane decided to give hypnotherapy a go after reading about it online (she was too scared with the prospect of aversion therapy)."I remember everything about it; it was really interesting. It really went back to my mother's fear of spiders when I was really young and she would shout at them."She was afraid of them and that was transferred onto me. It unlocks all these memories."There are two kinds of hypnosis that can be used for this treatment. One is suggestion hypnosis in which a therapist takes a patient into hypnosis and then will makes positive suggestions.However, Samson believes that this doesn't always provide a permanent fix and no longer practises it."By doing what I do, and investigating the root causes, and allowing them as an intelligent adult to review the situation again and override the bad data they have in their subconscious, I find it much more effective," he argues.These days Mary-Jane is a changed person; she even watched the film Arachnophobia recently. "I just don't care any more," she says."If I find one in the bathroom I'll trap it and put it out of the window. The first time I found one in the bath after the therapy I just felt sorry for it. I thought, 'Oh, that's not the right place for you, is it?' It's a completely different reaction."I may not want to cuddle them but I have a love and compassion for them now. And I laugh at how I used to behave."

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